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Golden Gate Bridge

Pictures by QT Luong

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The Golden Gate bridge is named for the strait it crosses, the opening where the San Francisco Bay meets the Pacific Ocean, not for its color. It is generally accepted that the strait was named "Chrysopylae" or Golden Gate by Army Captain John C. Fremont, circa 1846. It is said it reminded him of a harbor in Istanbul named Chrysoceras or Golden Horn.

Declared one of the modern Seven Wonders of the world, when completed in 1937, after a four-year construction, it was the longest single-span (suspension) bridge in the world (1.2 miles, 2km), and remained so until 1964. It also had the world's tallest suspension towers (746 feet, 230 m) at the time of construction, and held that record until more recently. The Golden Gate bridge is easily America's most photographed structure, and the most photographed bridge in the world. It is photogenic at any time of the day. Its distinctive orange vermillion color (chosen to blend with the span's natural setting in clear weather, as well as to look good in fog), makes it one of the most recognizable landmarks in the world. Maintenance job consists of repainting the bridge (a continuously ongoing task) and replacing the 600,000 rivets in each tower that have been corroded.

Besides the bridge itself, the Golden Gate is also made spectacular by the flow of the summer fog, which is quite a unique phenomenon to observe. Created by the huge temperature differences between the California interior central valley, and the masses of cold Pacific water, a thick band of fog rolls in exactly at the Golden Gate (see also this aerial view). At first, the band is low enough that usually the top of the pillars of the bridge still emerge. After a while, the whole area, that used to be warm and sunny becomes damp and cold.

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Golden Gate Bridge in Fog seen from Battery Spencer. San Francisco, California, USA ( color) Golden Gate Bridge pillar. San Francisco, California, USA ( color) Surfer and wave below the Golden Gate Bridge. San Francisco, California, USA ( color) Fort Point courtyard, lighthouse, and arch of the Golden Gate Bridge. San Francisco, California, USA ( color) Arched galleries of Fort Point and Golden Gate Bridge pillar. San Francisco, California, USA ( color) Three-story Fort Point below the Golden Gate Bridge. San Francisco, California, USA ( color) Golden Gate Bridge with city skyline, afternoon. San Francisco, California, USA ( color) Golden Gate bridge, afternoon. San Francisco, California, USA ( color) Golden Gate bridge seen from Hawk Hill, afternoon. San Francisco, California, USA ( color) Pilar of the Golden Gate Bridge emerging from the fog at sunset. San Francisco, California, USA ( color) Golden Gate bridge seen from Battery Spencer, dusk. San Francisco, California, USA ( color) The city seen through the cables and pilars of the Golden Gate bridge, dusk. San Francisco, California, USA ( color) Golden Gate Bridge pillar at night. San Francisco, California, USA ( color) Golden Gate and Bridge, sunset. San Francisco, California, USA ( color) Traffic on Golden Gate Bridge at dusk. San Francisco, California, USA ( color) Golden Gate Bridge reflected in wet sand, blue hour. San Francisco, California, USA ( color) The city seen through the cables and pilars of the Golden Gate bridge, night. San Francisco, California, USA ( color) Golden Gate bridge and surf seen from E Baker Beach, dusk. San Francisco, California, USA ( color) Golden Gate bridge at night from Baker Beach. San Francisco, California, USA ( color) Golden Gate bridge and surf seen from E Baker Beach, night. San Francisco, California, USA ( color) Golden Gate bridge and fog seen from Battery Spencer, afternoon. San Francisco, California, USA ( color) Tanker ship cruising under the Golden Gate Bridge in the fog. San Francisco, California, USA ( color) Container ship cruising under the Golden Gate Bridge. San Francisco, California, USA ( color) Fog rolls over the Golden Gate. San Francisco, California, USA ( color) Golden Gate bridge with top covered by fog. San Francisco, California, USA ( color) Golden Gate bridge with top covered by fog. San Francisco, California, USA ( color) Sailboats, Golden Gate Bridge with city skyline, afternoon. San Francisco, California, USA ( color) Sailboat, Golden Gate Bridge, and city skyline, afternoon. San Francisco, California, USA ( color) Sailboat, Golden Gate Bridge with city skyline, afternoon. San Francisco, California, USA ( color) The city seen through the cables of the Golden Gate bridge, sunset. San Francisco, California, USA ( color) The city seen through the cables of the Golden Gate bridge, sunset. San Francisco, California, USA ( color) Golden Gage bridge at dusk, reflected in wet sand at East Baker Beach. San Francisco, California, USA ( color) Golden Gate bridge and surf with light reflections, seen from E Baker Beach, dusk. San Francisco, California, USA ( color) The city seen through the cables and pilars of the Golden Gate bridge, night. San Francisco, California, USA ( color) Golden Gate bridge at night from Baker Beach. San Francisco, California, USA ( color) Golden Gate bridge at night from Baker Beach. San Francisco, California, USA ( color) Wave and Golden Gate Bridge. San Francisco, California, USA ( color) Surfer scrambling on rocks below the Golden Gate Bridge. San Francisco, California, USA ( color) Surfer poised to jump in water below the Golden Gate Bridge. San Francisco, California, USA ( color) Golden Gate Bridge seen from Fort Point. San Francisco, California, USA ( color) Surfer stepping on rocks and Golden Gate Bridge. San Francisco, California, USA ( color) Surfers below the Golden Gate Bridge. San Francisco, California, USA ( color) Fort Point and Golden Gate Bridge. San Francisco, California, USA ( color) Fort Point with visitor on roof and Golden Gate Bridge. San Francisco, California, USA ( color) Fort Point courtyard and galleries. San Francisco, California, USA ( color) Gallery in Fort Point National Historical Site. San Francisco, California, USA ( color) Fort Point courtyard, flag pole, and Golden Gate Bridge. San Francisco, California, USA ( color) Windsurfers at Crissy Field, with the Golden Gate Bridge behind. San Francisco, California, USA ( color) Traffic on Golden Gate Bridge at sunset. San Francisco, California, USA ( color) Golden Gate Bridge, sunset. San Francisco, California, USA ( color) Golden Gate Bridge pillar, sunset. San Francisco, California, USA ( color) Golden Gate Bridge, sunset. San Francisco, California, USA ( color)

All text and photos © QT Luong. See conditions for use of images. All the 52 color pictures of Golden Gate Bridge are on this page

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